Eye dryness and potential forms of alleviation

[Jugger]

Hi there...

I have recently switched from wearing RGPs to wearing semi-sclerals. I used to suffer with dryness of my eyes, which was assumed by my optician to be partly caused by a poor fit of the contacts + using a cleaner & conditioning solution with preservatives. I have moved to a non-preservative cleaner, the fit seems fine, yet I am again suffering with dryness of my eyes. This now makes wearing the semi-sclerals comfortably upwards of 6 hours a struggle. As I already use lubricating eye drops through the day, the optician suggested I try Omega 3 supplements, oily fish and nuts. I can't do nuts, leaving the other 2 options. As with suggestions like ‘drinking red wine is good for your health’, what ‘they’ never tell you is in what dose to take it, if some are better than others, frequency of the dosage etc, making the fish suggestion difficult to administer. The Omega 3 supplements potentially remaining as the only viable option of the 3 suggested.

I went to the pharmacy to look for some, and there were far more variants than I had imagined.

Any suggestions on a) whether they actually have any positive benefit for this; b) which is the one (if such a thing exists) I should try?

Jugger

[Andrew MacLean]

Jugger

Chronic dry eye is a problem with which many of us struggle. There may be a temptation to start using the cheapest artificial tears that you can find. This temptation ought to be avoided every bit as carefully as you avoid the urge to rub your tired and dry eyes.

The problem with some artificial tears is that they have preservative in them and, over the long term, preservatives actually aggravate the problem of dry eye.

Since I have started to use Clinitas Soothe, I have had no problems. "Soothe" comes in little one-dose vials and is completely preservative free. I also use an eye bag for five minutes at night. I sometimes forget, so I ought to say that I try to remember to use an eye bag at night. I got my eye bag and get my Soothe from the same source

http://www.butterflies-eyecare.co.uk/Clinitas.html

Every good wish.

Andrew

[jay87]

I don't use the supermarket/shelf eye drops as I don't find them good enough

I use Allergan Lacrilube overnight sometimes. Thats really thick and gloopy and lubricating. I also use Celluvisc single unit vials. they come in regular 0.5% concentration and thick 1%,concentration which really gives relief. these can both be bought over the counter from a pharmacy but are cheaper on prescription.

[Jugger]

Hi Andrew

Thanks for the heads up.

Please may I ask what is the difference between the Clinitas Soothe and the Clinitas Ultra 3?

Also, I currently use the Systane Ultra eye drops, which are quite viscous. Upon contact with the eyes, the drops become preservative free. While available to buy off the counter, you generally don’t find them on the shelf, so I need to get my pharmacist to order them in. How would something like this differ from the Clintas Soothe that you have recommended?

Please see:

http://www.systane.com/Dry-Eye-Drop.aspx

Lastly, would the effects of an eye bag differ much from using a warm/ cold compress?

Jugger

[Jugger]

Jay87,

Thanks for the suggestion.

May I please ask how what you have recommended differs from something like the Systane Ultra eye drops? I currently use this so seeking to understand the benefit of switching.

The active ingredients are Polyethylene Glycol 400 0.4% & Propylene Glycol 0.3%.

Please see:

http://www.systane.com/Dry-Eye-Drop.aspx

Jugger

[jay87]

Chemically Celluvisc is different. It's carmellose sodium 0.5% or 1%, which if I remember correctly is related to hypromellose, the favoured cheaper eye lubricant of the NHS.

A lot of people on here like Systane aswell, so I guess it's whatever you prefer really. If it's the bottled version of systane you are using might be worth trying the preservative free single vials to see if they lubricate better. As Andrew says the preservatives may cause dryness in chronic use.

[jay87]

Oh and i see you're wearing semi sclerals. I wouldn't try and fill one of them with 1% celluvisc, it's too thick. 0.5% would be fine though

[Charlottes mum]

the optician suggested I try Omega 3 supplements, oily fish and nuts. I can't do nuts, leaving the other 2 options. As with suggestions like ‘drinking red wine is good for your health’, what ‘they’ never tell you is in what dose to take it, if some are better than others, frequency of the dosage etc, making the fish suggestion difficult to administer. The Omega 3 supplements potentially remaining as the only viable option of the 3 suggested.

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[Jugger]

Thanks Charlotte's mum.